Sedentary behavior is associated with an attenuated thermogenic response to b-adrenergic receptor (b-AR) stimulation, an important regulator of energy expenditure (EE) in humans. Chronic stimulation of b-ARs, via heightened activity of the sympathoadrenal system, leads to diminished b-AR function. We have investigated the hypothesis that the thermogenic response of sedentary adults to b-AR stimulation will be increased during short-term sympathoadrenal inhibition. Using a randomly ordered, repeated measures study design, resting EE (REE; indirect calorimetry, ventilated hood technique) and the % increase in EE above REE (%DEE) during acute i.v. isoproterenol administration (nonselective b-AR agonist; 6, 12, and 24 ng/kg fat-free mass per min) were determined in 16 sedentary adults (nine females and seven males, 25G1 years, body mass index: 26 . 1G0 . 9 kg/m 2 , maximal oxygen uptake: 40G2 ml/kg per min (meanGS.E.M.)) in the basal state and on the 6th day of transdermal clonidine administration (centrally acting a2-AR agonist; 0 . 2 mg/day).Relative to baseline, clonidine inhibited sympathoadrenal activity, as evidenced by decreased plasma norepinephrine concentration (1 . 04G0 . 13 vs 0 . 34G0 . 03 nmol/l; P!0 . 001), skeletal muscle sympathetic nerve activity (22 . 5G3 . 8 vs 8 . 5 G1 . 9 bursts/min; PZ0 . 003), and resting heart rate (63G2 vs 49G1 beats/min; P!0 . 001). Sympathoadrenal inhibition decreased REE (6510G243 vs 5857G218 kJ/day; P!0 . 001), increased respiratory exchange ratio (0 . 84G0 . 01 vs 0 . 86 G0 . 01; PZ0 . 03), and augmented the thermogenic response to b-AR stimulation (%DEE: 11G2, 16G2, and 24G2 vs 14G1, 20G2, and 31G2; PZ0 . 04). These data demonstrate that in sedentary humans, short-term inhibition of sympathoadrenal activity increases the thermogenic response to b-AR stimulation, an important determinant of EE and hence energy balance.